Japan Soccer League facts for kids
| Founded | 1965 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1992 |
| Country | Japan |
| Most championships | Toyo Industries, Yomiuri (5) |
The Japan Soccer League (JSL) was once the top football (soccer) league in Japan. It was an amateur league, meaning players usually weren't paid to play. The JSL started in 1965 and ran until 1992. It was replaced by the J.League, which is a professional league.
Contents
History of Japan's Top Football League
The Japan Soccer League was very important for football in Japan. It helped grow the sport across the country. Before the JSL, football was mostly played by school teams or company teams. The JSL brought together the best teams to compete for a national title.
How the JSL Worked
The JSL had two main divisions: Division 1 and Division 2.
- Division 1 was for the best teams.
- Division 2 was for teams trying to get promoted to Division 1.
Teams would play each other throughout the season. The team with the most points at the end of the season became the champion. Teams could move between divisions based on how well they played. This system helped keep the competition exciting.
Key Teams and Their Success
Over the years, many teams became famous in the JSL. Some of the most successful clubs were Toyo Industries and Yomiuri. Each of these teams won the Division 1 title five times. Other strong teams included Mitsubishi Motors and Yanmar Diesel. These teams helped make the JSL popular and exciting for fans.
Japan Soccer League Champions
Here are the champions of the Japan Soccer League's top divisions.
Division 1 Champions
Division 2 Champions
| Season | Champions | Runner-up | Third place |
| 1972 | Toyota Motors | Tanabe Pharmaceuticals | Kofu |
| 1973 | Eidai Industries | Kofu | Yomiuri |
| 1974 | Yomiuri | Fujitsu | Kyoto Shiko |
| 1975 | Tanabe Pharmaceuticals | Yomiuri | Fujitsu |
| 1976 | Fujitsu | Yomiuri | Tanabe Pharmaceuticals |
| 1977 | Yomiuri | Nissan Motors | Sumitomo Metals |
| 1978 | Honda | Nissan Motors | Kofu |
| 1979 | Toshiba Horikawa | Yamaha Motors | Fujitsu |
| 1980 | Honda | Fujitsu | Toshiba |
| 1981 | Nippon Kokan | Nissan Motors | Toshiba |
| 1982 | Yamaha Motors | Toshiba | Sumitomo Metals |
| 1983 | Nippon Kokan | Sumitomo Metals | Toshiba |
| 1984 | Sumitomo Metals | All Nippon Airways | Matsushita Electric |
| 1985/86 | Matsushita Electric | Mazda | Toshiba |
| 1986/87 | Sumitomo Metals | Toyota Motors | Tanabe Pharmaceuticals |
| 1987/88 | All Nippon Airways | Matsushita Electric | Toshiba |
| 1988/89 | Toshiba | Hitachi | Tanabe Pharmaceuticals |
| 1989/90 | Mitsubishi Motors | Toyota Motors | Mazda |
| 1990/91 | Hitachi | Mazda | Fujita |
| 1991/92 | Fujita | Sumitomo Metals | Yanmar Diesel |
The End of the JSL and New Beginnings
The Japan Soccer League ended in 1992. This was because Japan wanted to create a fully professional football league. This new league, called the J.League, started in 1993. Many of the teams from the JSL joined the J.League. The JSL played a big part in preparing Japanese football for this professional era. It helped build the foundation for the popular sport we see in Japan today.
See also
In Spanish: Japan Soccer League para niños
